A COMPANY withdrew from the development of a Wales Tourist Board internet site because it warned it would end in expensive failure.

Simon Locke, e-commerce director of Brecon-based BVG Airflo Group plc, said: "We presented our concerns to members of the WTB on a couple of occasions explaining why the site doesn't work and why it is never going to work. But the WTB chose to ignore our advice.

"The destination management system for Wales is unworkable by the trade, the very people it was designed to serve," Mr Locke said.

The company - one of three specialist firms shortlisted - withdrew from the tendering process for the #1.1m contract over two years ago.

The existing system developed by an Australian company was launched last July to allow tourists to book online at www.visitwales.com . Mid and West Wales Conservative AM Lisa Francis is to raise the issue at a meeting of the Assembly's economic committee today.

The tourist board said that BVG pulled out of the tender for two main reasons. "We needed a company to develop a bilingual system, which they weren't able to provide us with, and they were not comfortable with building the e-commerce side of the site," a spokeswoman said.